Best of Screen Play for 2006

Forgive me for indulgence, but I couldn't help delving into the archives today and looking back at my highlights of Screen Play's first year.

The great strength of this medium is that writers receive instant feedback on what topics their readers are interested in (and what they are not).

Thankfully, we've had more hits than misses during what's been a fascinating year in the interactive entertainment industry.

Below are my highlights from the year, and please let me know what you would like to see in Screen Play in 2007.

- Screen Play got a rude awakening to the realities of blogging, kicking off during a mad-week in Los Angeles at E3, and getting very little sleep. Tokyo Game Show in September was to prove similarly exhausting, but also provided plenty of topics for debate.

- The first hint that console "fanboys" would use Screen Play to argue the toss came in a relative innocuous post spectacuating about Wii's price. Many spirited debates would follow during the year.

- I really enjoyed researching this piece - The high price of early adopting. It put one of the most talked about issues of the year - the PS3's high price tag - in interesting perspective.

- My pet subject for the year was the desperate need for an R games classification in Australia. You certainly agreed, judging by the reaction to the banning of Reservoir Dogs. Lets have more culture crusaders taking up the cause in 2007.

- Screen Play also had to do plenty of radio interviews on the back of our call for more mature content (sex) in gaming. And many readers shared our determination to get more women interested in picking up a joypad, even if they had ulterior motives. It was also interesting to look at the plight of gay gamers.

- The intelligent debate that followed from blogs like June's Are games too hard was getting me increasingly excited about the blog, even just a few weeks into its life.

- My prediction that official magazines were in deep trouble didn't enamor me with some industry colleagues, (and neither did this, or this) but was confirmed later in the year with the closure of US Official PlayStation Magazine.

- One of the biggest responses of the year came from a piece on Wii third-party support, but it was nothing compared to the world-wide attention that an interview with Sony's Michael Ephraim garnered, in which Michael sounded like a pot calling Nintendo black. Screen Play's mischievous Cut the crap mock interviews were also heavily linked around the world.

- Screen Play's speculation on the future of Australian gaming pioneer Melbourne House prompted one of the most fascinating outpourings for the year, with past and current staff using the (very public) forum to air their grievances. Later when examining possible suitors for the local institution, Screen Play didn't even consider the eventual buyer - Australia's very own Krome. Here's to many more great Melbourne House games in the future.

- I found it very interesting that some blogs were still receiving comments many months after the first post, like Hardware horror, although some Aussie readers got a bit tired of Americans discovering Screen Play via Google and regularly saying that our prices and release dates were wrong.

- I really enjoyed being able to get breaking news to readers instantly via the blog instead of the usual lengthy delay in the dead tree versions of the paper. Popular news items during 2006 included the highly anticipated Wii release date and the PS3 delay.

- I also liked being able to directly answer questions on the blog and get feedback on what topics fellow gamers were interested in. Experiments like my week-long Wii thoughts series proved popular.

- Screen Play's dislike of EB Games stores divided readers, and most also didn't share my enthusiasm for the death of the E3 trade show (which really had outgrown its usefulness), but I really enjoyed the countless spirited debates during the year.

- It was August's Battle Stations week-long series that recorded the biggest statistics for the year, and prompted a huge number of entertaining responses. Screen Play examined the strengths and weaknesses of PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii, concluding the week with bold (or stupid) predictions. Let's see if they end up being correct...

- Screen Play certainly felt like Nostradamus during all but the final seconds of the AFL Grand Final, with our humble PS2 going within a whisker of predicting the quarter-by-quarter trends and results of the thrilling match.

Posted
by Jason HillDecember 18, 2006 6:15 AM

LATEST COMMENTS

It's great to have such a solid gaming blog being written locally, and a little surprising that it's run by a bastion of the mainstream press. You have provided a lot of entertaining reading throughout the year, Jason. Congratulations on your first year and best wishes for the future.

Posted by: James "DexX" Dominguez on December 18, 2006 10:04 AM

A great year in gaming indeed Jason.

Well done on keeping us all informed, entertained and more often than not at war with each other...LOL! I guess that only goes to show we're all a highly passionate bunch, no matter what corner of the gaming world we're from.

Screen Play has become my first stop on the daily trawl for 'local' news and views. Its good for a laugh, great to let off some steam and a top source for info....

Well done.

Posted by: LazyBones on December 18, 2006 10:37 AM

Congratulations on the fantastic work Jason, I discovered this blog around Septemeber and I read every article everyday (and commented on almost all too!) Your Blog has become my most reliable source of gaming information and have as my visits to your blog increase, my visits to gamespot drop off...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you Jason!

Posted by: Mark on December 18, 2006 11:44 AM

It's amazing to think that something so innocuous as a gaming blogger who actually does asks the questions everyone's thinking is virtually unheard of in other countries.

By the by, why didn't you post anything about Games Wizards' acquisition by UK monolith Game? That makes them just as evil and international in my book... ;)

Jason says: Cheers wandrew. The Game acquisition is something I want to chase seeing as they have big plans to open many new stores. I think the competition will be healthy and is desperately needed. PS, that Penny Arcade comic is a gem.

Posted by: wandrew on December 18, 2006 12:04 PM

As others have already said, you have done a great job with this blog and it's a daily destination for me. Thanks for all the effort!

All the best and I look forward to more of the same next year!

Posted by: Phend on December 18, 2006 12:51 PM

thanks jason for the great year. This blog and all you mugs have got me through. Bring on next year.

(we should all be allowed to have avatars)

:)

cheers.

Posted by: NS on December 18, 2006 1:18 PM

yes, well done Jason.

it is good that you have survived these long months, and i look forward to reading your site again in the new year.

do you get time off for christmas, or can we sneak online for discussion of our new software on 25/12/06 when no-one is looking?

Posted by: Shadowsphynx on December 18, 2006 2:48 PM

Jason thanks for a great year, although I am what you would describe as a casual gamer (very) it is great to know that you keep your finger on the pulse for me.

As for next year I would love a campaign to be started to have censorship for games similar to that for movies, eg, if it is deemed to offensive rate it 'R' (over 18), then don't sell it without appropriate ID. It can't be that difficult can it? EB Games could get signatures and it could flow from there?

Posted by: Andrew on December 18, 2006 5:05 PM

Great job on the wii launch (when I started reading).

Posted by: Migwel on December 19, 2006 10:21 AM

the best hm id have to say misty's stupid comments on jason last week about advertising and how it supposedly sways opinions and coverage on screenplay i totally cracked up about her dumb comments and the arguements oh the arguments were great
keep up the good work jason

Posted by: sydgay on December 19, 2006 10:26 AM

Congrats an a great blog, complementing the newpaper articles with more levity and more gamer culture oriented articles. The likes of these are definitely welcome!

Less interested in the pseudo industry analyst stuff and more game-culture exploring and exposure

Some stuff I'd like to see (and for print fodder too)

- discussion on trading games. Is it worth it? Worst game trading regrets? Why do some people keep a game for a week then give it up?

- gamer habits, such as how often you play, finding time, including partners (great article on this above, always worth revisiting) and things like how you approach playing games (go straight for multi player, always finish games or leave them half way, do you push yourself to learn the hidden depths of a game)

- game balance, what makes a good competitive play experience

-esports in australia

- the auters of gaming and gaming as an art form (with your alternative and mainstream choices)

- history of gaming, who influenced what, gaming family trees and genres over the years. Take a personal pov and see the line through gaming history people take (system to system, standout games)

- keep asking tough questions of the industry brass, keep highlighting the best in gaming and discourage system bashing

Great work Jason here's to a great 07!

Posted by: DC on December 19, 2006 11:06 AM

GG nextmap :D

Top stuff jason!

on the subject of trading, I once traded MOO3 for some guys CIV 3. I definately got the better of that one.

Posted by: mack on December 19, 2006 2:30 PM

Nice work Jason. Yours is one of the few (indeed the only, as I only read two others to get my blood up) The Age blogs that don't suck...um...Wii.